Introduction
Religion is a basic social institution that affects an individual’s life from childhood to adulthood. Religion can be defined as a set of beliefs and practices which govern society, religion varies in different societies and also differs in the degree to which it is integrated into the society. It is based on the belief in a higher deity who controls the lives of the people by providing or restricting providence.
Religion plays an important role in society because it governs the behavior of the individuals in society and provides meaning to an individual’s life, in this sense religion satisfies a human being’s psychological needs as presented in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (Schaefer 2008 P.86). In modern society there is much different religion, major ones include Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Judaism.
Although these religions have different ideologies, they serve the same function in society. This paper seeks to establish the role of religion in three major sociological theories (functionalism, conflict, and Interactionism). In my study, I will examine how each theory perceives the individual, the similarities in the role that religion plays in the three theories, the differences, the effect on society, and how the theory affects social change.
Role of religion in functionalism
Functionalism theory was developed by a French sociologist thinker, Emile Durkheim. Functionalism is built on two major foundations; these include a scientific method and an analogy between society and a complex organism. Durkheim postulated that society is a complex entity that is highly differentiated in roles, he used imagery and compared society to human anatomy, and the anatomy is made up of different organs like kidneys, liver, heart, Brain, etc.
All these organs have important parts to play in the functioning of the body and no part of the anatomy can exist autonomously. Similarly, the society is highly differentiated into social institutions, these social institutions have different roles that are important for the functioning of the society, for example, the family is a social institution that ensures the continuity of the society by providing new members and concerning the discussion at hand, religion is an important social institution that instills values and norms in the society and generally dictating how the members of society should relate to one another (Durkheim, 1915 p. 65).
The social systems in the social work at establishing a state of equilibrium in the society, religion achieves this by instilling norms and values that will govern the behavior of individuals such that peace and order are maintained.
Functionalism does not explain the emergence of social change but only explains how the disturbance caused by the change is resolved. When there is a disturbance in the equilibrium in the society the social institutions work together to correct this disturbance for example when a member of society deviates from normal practices and begins to take part in acceptable activities, the religious institutions take it upon themselves to counsel the person if this does not work then other institutions such as the judicial institutions step in to correct the disturbance. Therefore in this theory, religion is a system in the society that contributes to the survival of the society.
Role of religion on conflict
This theory was developed by Karl Marx, this theory views society as a materialistic entity that favors the rich (capitalists/ bourgeoisie) and exploits the poor (workers/ proletariat) the capitalists control the means of production and employ the proletariat at minimal wages. Conflict arises between the Bourgeoisie and the proletariat due to their differences in goals, while the Bourgeoisie’s goal is to maximize profits by reducing the cost of production the proletariat’s goal is to increase their wages. According to Karl Marx, the only way that the proletariat can escape the cycle of poverty is through a revolution that will replace the capitalist system with communism.
According to the conflict, theory religion poses a threat to liberalization from oppression because it seeks to justify an individual’s position in the society thus the quote by Marx is that religion is opium for the masses meaning that it blinds the people from seeing their oppressed lifestyle. Hence religion is seen as a tool for the capitalist to control the masses by justifying their positions in society, examples of religious teachings that justify a stratification in society Are a verse from the bible that blesses the meek in the society and promises them a greater reward in the hereafter.
In his theory of Alienation Marx describes religion as an asocial construct that has been attributed immense power by its creators (society) such that it has become an independent entity that exercises control; over the lives of the creators. In conflict, theory religion is an agent that hinders the process of social change by encouraging complacency and supporting the class structures that are present in the society.
Religion in Interactionism
Interactionism was put forth by Marx Weber. This theory provides meaning to human behavior; it states that human behavior is governed by the meaning they attach to various symbols. These symbols are diverse and vary; examples of symbols are language, the national flag, the family, religious institutions, etc. Society’s functions are viewed as a series of interactions between individuals in the society, these interactions are organized in nature (Wimberley 1989 pp. 125-142)
Internationalism postulates that human interaction and behavior are comprised of interactions and negotiations which eventually create relationships that are temporary and dynamic. In this theory, religion is a form of symbolic internationalism which governs the behavior of individuals. Religion gives meaning to the behavior of people, for example when a person does good in this life he believes that he will be rewarded in the afterlife, this will motivate him to work harder in the current life by doing a lot of good work to reap the benefits later. In this theory people are regarded as the agents of social processes, social change occurs in the context of these interactions, social change takes a long time as the individuals must change their habits and adapt, religion does not assist in catalyzing the process but rather slows it down.
Similarities
n all three theories religion plays a vital role in controlling human behavior. Religion instills values and norms that govern the behavior of individuals with each other, these values provide a platform for judging what is generally accepted and what is deviant. In all the three theories religion affects society from the individual level (micro-level) religion affects the behavior of each person individually and the total effect on the individuals’ life is the effect on the society (Van Court Hare1995 p. 67). In all three theories, Religion does not facilitate social change but rather helps to maintain a status quo. Religion acts as a means for maintaining law and order and a system through which individuals can find answers to unexplained phenomena thereby giving the individuals psychological satisfaction.
Differences
There are not many differences in the role of religion in the three perspectives because religion serves the same purpose, the difference lies in the foundation of the theory (Schaefer 2008 P. 95). In the Interactionism theory religion is a form of interaction while in the conflict theory and the functionalism theory it serves only as a means of governance. Conflict theory addresses religion as a social construct while Interactionism and functionalism view religion as a means for the functioning of the society.
Conclusion
From the discussion, we note that religion is a very important part of any society. Although religion is dynamic and is different in all societies, the purpose remains the same. Religion helps to maintain order and peaceful coexistence in society and at the same time, it gives meaning to the life and actions of individuals. The position of religion in all three sociological perspectives is strikingly similar. The major differences lie in the goal that religion seeks to achieve, while in functionalism theory and Interactionism theory religion is a means through which social systems function, in the conflict theory it is a social vice because it encourages class stratification.
We note that religion works by affecting the life of every individual and its impact on society is determined by measuring the total effect on the entire individual. We have established the role of religion in the three major sociological theories (functionalism, conflict, and Interactionism)
References
Durkheim, E. (1915). The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life: A Study in Religious Sociology. Trans. Joseph Ward Swain. New York: Macmillan.
Schaefer, R. T. (2008). Sociology: A Brief Introduction. 8th Edition, Columbus: McGraw Hill publishers.
Van Court Hare, Jr. (1955). Philosophy of Science. The University of Chicago Press, Vol. 22, No 1 p. 69. Chicago.
Wimberley, D. W. (1989). Religion and Role-Identity: A Structural Symbolic Interactionist Conceptualization of Religiosity The Sociological Quarterly. Blackwell Publishing, Vol. 30, No. 1 pp. 125-142. New Jersey.